Automatic compensation feed, speed-controlled copier

ABSTRACT

The response times of the magnetic clutch drive and the cutting knife solenoid of an automatic roll feed diazocopying machine which tend to adversely affect each length of cut copy paper with respect to the corresponding original with changes in paper feed speed, are continuously taken into account or corrected by an automatic paper feed speed responsive control mechanism over the entire speed range of the common copying drive system of the machine. The control mechanism selectively and differentially advances the original front edge sensor switch, and the rear edge sensor switch, as the speed of the originals increases, for example; so that any tendency for the cut copy paper lengths to vary with respect to the lengths of the corresponding originals due to the paper feed speed increase, is effectively automatically corrected by a governor that is continuously responsive to such speed.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Arnold G. Ulmer Endicott, N.Y. [2]] Appl. No. 39,625 [22] Filed May 22, 1970 [45] Patented Dec. 28, 1971 [73] Assignee GAF Corporation New York, N.Y.

[54] AUTOMATIC COMPENSATION FEED, SPEED- CONTROLLED COPIER 6 Claims, 1 Drawing Fig.

[52] U.S. Cl .t 83/72, 83/203 [51] Int. Cl 826d 5/20 [50] Field of Search 83/72, 203, 205, 364; 355/13, 28, 29

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,398,619 8/1968 Nichols et al. 83/364X Primary Examiner--James M. Meister Attorneys-Martin Smolowitz, Walter C. Kehm and Samson B. Leavitt ABSTRACT: The response times of the magnetic clutch drive and the cutting knife solenoid of an automatic roll feed diazocopying machine which tend to adversely affect each length of cut copy paper with respect to the corresponding original with changes in paper feed speed, are continuously taken into account or corrected by an automatic paper feed speed responsive control mechanism over the entire speed range of the common copying drive system of the machine. The control mechanism selectively and differentially advances the original front edge sensor switch, and the rear edge sensor switch, as the speed of the originals increases, for example; so that any tendency for the cut copy paper lengths to vary with respect to the lengths of the corresponding originals due to the paper feed speed increase, is effectively automatically corrected by a governor that is continuously responsive to such speed.

86 Governor I 83 i I l I I I A 36 I PATENTEU 05:28am

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Arno! BY v 7 p Ulmer ATTORNEY AUTOMATIC COMPENSATION FEED, SPEED- CONTROLLED COPIER This invention relates to automatic diazocopying machines, and more particularly to the type in which a length of copy paper is automatically drawn from a supply roll and cut to match each original with which it is used in the machine, in response to progress of the original in the machine.

A troublesome problem in such machines is that changes in the paper feed speed cause the lengths of the cut copy paper adversely to vary over the paper feed speed range of the machine, so that such lengths one either undesirably longer or shorter than those of the corresponding originals.

The main object of the present invention is to solve such problem with a novel mechanism that is simple and economical to install, and is effective and efficient in operation, requiring a minimum of attention and adjustment in use.

According to the invention the housing of the original point edge sensor switch is mounted on a sideplate under the path of movement of the originals. Such plate is carried by lateral leaf springs so that the plate and switch housing can be pulled to a certain extent in the direction of such movement. The housing of the original rear edge sensor switch is similarly and separately mounted. One switch is located under and adjacent one side of the original path, and the other switch under and adjacent the other side thereof, the plates being in spaced parallel relationship to each other. Such plates are both connected to a pivoted lever by individual flexible tension members in such a way that movement of the lever about its pivot controls the relative longitudinal positions of the switches with respect to each other and to such path. The lever is linked to the arm of a governor which is responsive to the paper feed speed of the machine. Thus, as the paper feed speed increases, for example, the governor arm pulls the lever so as in turn to pull the tension members, advancing the plates and the corresponding switches against the force of the leaf springs. The mechanism is preadjusted whereby the automatic operation thereof is such that the severed lengths of copy paper very accurately match the originals regardless of the paper feed spee of the machine over the entire speed range thereof.

More particularly the invention provides means acting to compensate for the response times of the magnetic clutch drive and the knife solenoid over the entire range of machine speeds. The control of copy paper feed and cutoff thereof is continuous, resulting in accurately sized reproductions regardless of machine speeds, even though the copy paper is drawn automatically from the supply roll in operation of the machine.

In the drawing the single FIGURE is a fragmentary diagrammatic view, partly in plan, of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Copying machine comprises a frame 12 to which brackets l4, 14 are secured. The brackets l4, 14 are located under and at opposite sides of the horizontal path of the movement of originals 16 on a conveyor 18. Conveyor is operated in the direction of arrow 20 by an original paper drive 22. A copy paper feed drive sensor switch 24, and a knife cutoff sensor switch 26 are located under the original path of movement for operation by the leading edge 28 and trailing edge 30 respectively of each original 16. Operation of the switch 24 results in the energization of a magnetic clutch 32 by way of electrical circuit 31, which thereupon connects copy paper feed drive 34 to a machine paper feed drive system 36 including a single main motor 38 for the whole machine 10.

The copy paper drive 34 draws copy paper web 40 from a supply roll 42 for use with the corresponding original I6 in the machine; and, when the so drawn length equals that of the original, switch 26 operates by virtue of the trailing edge 30 reaching the same. This results in the energization of a cutoff knife solenoid 44, which drives copy paper web severing knife 46 to transversely sever the appropriate length 48 of the copy paper web 40 therefrom. Switch 26 is electrically associated with solenoid 44 by a control circuit 50, whereby the solenoid 32 is energized when the switch 26 is activated. Likewise, magnetic clutch 32 is closed when the switch 24 is activated.

The original paper drive 22 is also driven by the main motor 38 of the machine through a suitable power train of drive system 36.

The switch housings 52 and 54 of sensor switches 24 and 26, respectively, are mounted on spaced parallel sideplates 56 and 58 that are located under original conveyor 18, and are carried by the inner ends of laterally disposed pairs of leaf springs 60, 60 and 62, 62. The latter are mounted on the fixed brackets 14, 14. The plates 56 and 58, thus, can be deflected longitudinally when pulled, and return to their initial position when released.

Attached to the sideplate 55 is a flexible tension member such as a wire 64 carried by spaced pulleys 66 and 68 and secured at the other end to a lever 70 pivoted at 72. The tension member 66 includes means such as turnbuckle 74 for manually adjusting the effective tension or length of the wire. Similarly, plate 58 is connected to lever 70 by another tension member 76 carried by a pulley 78 and also comprising effective tension on length adjusting means 80. A link 82 connects lever 70 to the arm 83 of a speed responsive governor 84. The input drive 86 of the governor 84 is coupled to the machine drive 36. The amount of relative displacement of the sensor switches 24 and 26 can be manually adjusted by presetting bolts 88 and 90, which connect the outer ends of wires 64 and 76 to the lever 70, in central slot 92 in the lever 70, toward or away from pivot 72.

OPERATION I In case the speed of drive motor 38 should increase, arm 83 of governor 84 swings lever 70 clockwise, as shown. This action pulls flexible wires 64 and 76 which, in turn, displace sensor switches 24 and 28 differentially from their normal positions by deflecting leaf springs 60 and 62 in the direction of arrows B, B. The amount of such displacements depends on the degree of increase in speed of the paper drive 36 of the machine 10. Conversely, when the speed decreases, the edge sensor switches are moved by the springs 60 and 62 back in the opposite direction. Thus, as the response times of the magnetic clutch 32 and knife solenoid, increase-an earlier signal to each is initiated by corresponding linear displacements of each master paper edge sensors over the entire speed range of the machine.

The greater the distance the bolts 88, 90 are set from pivot 72, the greater the linear displacements of the original edge sensor switchs 24, 26 over the speed range of the paper drive 36. In the present case, since the clutch 32 response time is about one-half of that of the knife solenoid 44, the effective linear displacement over the speed range of the sensor switch 24, controlling the clutch 32 is about one-half of that of sensor switch 26 controlling the knife solenoid 44.

The switches 24 and 26 may be photoelectric, sonic, or the pressure operated type such as microswitches.

In any case the invention results in substantially more accurate matching of the copy paper lengths with those of the corresponding originals regardless of the paper feed speed of the machine over the entire speed range thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. In an automatic copy machine provided with paper feed means acting to draw a length of copy paper from a supply roll thereof in response to movement of the leading edge of an original first a copy paper feed sensor switch, and

cutoff means for cutting such length of copy paper to match that of such original when the trailing edge of the original moves past a copy paper cutoff sensor switch;

switch support means supporting said switches for longitudinal differential displacement in the direction of movement of such original, and

switch displacing means including a governor responsive to the speed of such movement for longitudinally and differentially displacing said switches in accordance with such speed,

whereby the effective response times of copy paper feed means and length cutoff means are a function of such speed, so that the so-cut copy length accurately matches that of the original regardless of the speed of the paper feed over the entire speed range thereof.

2, The invention as defined by claim 1, in which said switch support means includes spring means supporting the switches under the path of movement of each original for such displacement when pulled against the force thereof; and

said switch displacement means comprises a pivoted lever connected to said governor for swinging movement thereby, and

individual tension members connecting said switches to said lever with the paper feed switch tension member being connected further away from the lever pivot than that of the cutoff switch;

whereby the displacement of said paper feed switch is more than that of said cutoff switch when the lever is swung by said governor about such pivot to pull said members against the force of said spring means. 3. Automatic speed compensation control mechanism for continuously correcting any tendency of a copier to cut lengths of copy paper supplied from a roll which fail to substantially equal the lengths of the corresponding originals with which they are intended to be copied, due to speed changes over the copy speed range of an automatic copying machine having common drive means for the copy paper and the originals; comprising, in combination:

a speed sensitive governor having an arm responsive to the speed of said common drive means of the machine;

automatic means including a copy paper drive system and an original front edge sensor switch for drawing copy paper from the supply roll driven by said common drive means;

automatic means including a copy paper severing drive system and an original rear edge sensor switch for severing such copy paper to provide a corresponding length of such paper for each original;

said copying machine comprising a frame having brackets located on opposite sides of the path of such originals adjacent said sensor switches,

groups of spaced parallel leaf springs connected at their outer ends to each of said brackets, and positioned laterally with respect to such path;

sideplates supported by the inner end of said group of springs, in spaced parallel relationship to each other under such path, for movement in the direction of movement of the originals;

said switches having housing, one of which is mounted on one of said plates, and the other switch housing on the other plate;

a lever pivoted to said frame;

a link connecting said lever to said governor arm, and

means including tension members connecting said plates to said lever at spaced points between the length of said lever;

whereby any tendency due to copy speed changes of the machine to sever lengths of copy paper that are not substantially equal to the corresponding originals, is continuously corrected by the control mechanism which acts automatically in response to changes in the speed of the common drive means to adjust the relative longitudinal positions of said switch housings with respect to each other under the path of the originals so that the copy paper lengths severed from the copy paper are substantially equal to those of the corresponding originals.

4. The invention as defined by claim 3, in which each tension member comprises a flexible wire provided means substantially manually adjusting the initial tension thereof.

5. The invention as defined by claim 3, in which the lever is provided with a longitudinal slot, a releasable bolt slidably ad ustable In such slot for connecting each tension member to said lever, providing means for manually presetting the displacement of the sensor switch housings when said lever is operated by said governor in response to the speed of said common drive means.

6. The invention as defined by claim 3, in which the copy paper drive system includes a magnetic clutch operated by said original front edge sensor switch having a certain response time,

the copying paper drive system includes a knife solenoid operated by said original rear edge sensor switch having a certain response time, and

the control mechanism provides means for automatically compensating for such response times over the entire speed range of the machine. 

1. In an automatic copy machine provided with paper feed means acting to draw a length of copy paper from a supply roll thereof in response to movement of the leading edge of an original first a copy paper feed sensor switch, and cutoff means for cutting such length of copy paper to match that of such original when the trailing edge of the original moves past a copy paper cutoff sensor switch; switch support means supporting said switches for longitudinal differential displacement in the direction of movement of such original, and switch displacing means including a governor responsive to the speed of such movement for longitudinally and differentially displacing said switches in accordance with such speed, whereby the effective response times of copy paper feed means and length cutoff means are a function of such speed, so that the so-cut copy length accurately matches that of the original regardless of the speed of the paper feed over the entire speed range thereof.
 2. The invention as defined by claim 1, in which said switch support means includes spring means supporting the switches under the path of movement of each original for such displacement when pulled against the force thereof; and said switch displacement means comprises a pivoted lever connected to said governor for swinging movement thereby, and individual tension members connecting said switches to said lever with the paper feed switch tension member being connected further away from the lever pivot than that of the cutoff switch; whereby the displacement of said paper feed switch is more than that of said cutoff switch when the lever is swung by said governor about such pivot to pull said members against the force of said spring means.
 3. Automatic speed compensation control mechanism for continuously correcting any tendency of a copier to cut lengths of copy paper supplied from a roll which fail to substantially equal the lengths of the corresponding originals with which they are intended to be copied, due to speed changes over the copy speed range of an automatic copying machine having common drive means for the copy paper and the originals; comprising, in combination: a speed sensitive governor having an arm responsive to the speed of said common drive means of the machine; automatic means including a copy paper drive system and an original front edge sensor switch for drawing copy paper from the supply roll, driven by said common drive means; automatic means including a copy paper severing drive system and an original rear edge sensor switch for severing such copy paper to provide a corresponding length of such paper for each original; said copying machine comprising a frame having brackets located on opposite sides of the path of such originals adjacent said sensor switches, groups of spaced parallel leaf springs connected at their outer ends to each of said brackets, and positioned laterally with respect to such path; sideplates supported by the inner ends of said group of springs, in spaced parallel relationship to each other under such path, for movement in the direction of movement of the originals; said switches having housing, one of which is mounted on one of said plates, and the other switch housing on the other plate; a lever pivoted to said frame; a link connecting said lever to said governor arm, and means including tension members connecting said plates to said lever at spaced points between the length of said lever; whereby any tendency due to copy speed changes of the machine to sever lengths of copy paper that are not substantially equal to the corresponding originals, is continuously corrected by the control mechanism which acts automatically in response to changes in the speed of the common drive means to adjust the relative longitudinal positions of said switch housings with respect to each other under the path of the originals so that the copy paper lengths severed from the copy paper are substantially equal to those of the corresponding originals.
 4. The invention as defined by claim 3, in which each tension member comprises a flexible wire provided means for manually adjusting the initial tension thereof.
 5. The invention as defined by claim 3, in which the lever is provided with a longitudinal slot, a releasable bolt slidably adjustable in such slot for connecting each tension member to said lever, providing means for manually presetting the displacement of the sensor switch housings when said lever is operated by said governor in response to the speed of said common drive means.
 6. The invention as defined by claim 3, in which the copy paper drive system includes a magnetic clutch operated by said original front edge sensor switch having a certain response time, the copying paper drive system includes a knife solenoid operated by said original rear edge sensor switch having a certain response time, and the control mechanism provides means for automatically compensating for such response times over the entire speed range of the machine. 